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Category Archives: Alaska

The ups and downs of cabin life.

Spruce bark beetles are ravaging our trees, everywhere. At home we have dozens dead but at the cabin they are more noticeable. Three lovely big spruce by the cabin have died and either us or the wind have taken them down. Cutting these trees was certainly bittersweet. I love these big ole trees. But they were no longer safe and had to go. Definitely a down.

Spruce bark beetle damage. There are thousands of these on a single tree.

It opened up the yard tremendously and let in more sunlight. Also less privacy, win some, lose some I guess.

The three stumps.

Jake came out with his mini excavator to help take down the trees closest to the cabin as well as pull some stumps for us. While there I had him dig a test hole in a consistently wet spot of the driveway. After about half an hour we had a pretty good seep of clear water so it looks like I’ll be developing a spring house for fresh water!! I’m so excited! Up for sure!

Little boy on board.

We still have several downed trees to turn into cord wood. And a deck to finish. And another coat of sealer to get on the cabin before snow flies. Our last two weeks of moose season will be filled with chores during the “not hunting” hours. Here’s to having a successful and productive moose camp! Hoping for a big ole up!!

No more stumps!
My test hole full of water. Will be pumping it out and developing the spring here!!

#aklife #drycabin #beetlespruce #beetlespruce #bettlespruce

Harvest Season

We spent Sunday morning foraging. Niki, Mo, Thing 1 & I. City Hall has some crab apple trees and an abundance of rosehips that we harvested for jelly making.

Loaded little crab apple tree.

While there we enjoyed each other’s company and solved all the world’s problems. We also enjoyed the flower beds and various different trees planted around the premises.

Dusty Miller in the Soldotna City Hall flower garden.

We found a large patch of wild roses and harvested a nice amount of rosehips. Thing 1 had a good time practicing plant identification for her Botany class.

We harvested enough crab apples for jelly, cider, sauce… You get the idea

Cut leaf weeping Birch.

Also enough to share with others. Part of the joy of wildcrafting is sharing with others.

Some ornamental foundation shrubs.
More flowers at City Hall.
Another bed relatively untouched by the frost.

We also had to harvest our own plants. Lil Bit planted several herbs for her Botany class last year. They did very well and we’ve enjoyed fresh basil, cilantro and parsley this summer.

Lil Bit’s parsley she grew from seed. Harvested to use in our matzo ball soup for Sukkot.

Alas, Old Man Winter is knocking at the door. Time to harvest as much as we can. Hoping for another cranberry picking soon. And a moose.

And afterwards we went for coffee.

#aklife #foraging #wildcrafting #bounty

A Great Day…

To pick berries, with my Solstice Sisters.

Sunshine, a little wind. Glorious big low bush cranberries. A few blueberries left and a good batch of crow berries too.

Children running amuck. Playing with their friends like they just saw each other yesterday.

Also a great day for a campfire on the beach. Roasting hotdogs and marshmallows, drinking a little homemade rhubarb wine. Enjoying the beach with my buddies.

  • With the sun right in our eyes.
  • Roasting the wieners
  • Roasting my tootsies.
  • Tide rolling out.
  • A little hazy but nice weather.

Friends make every day a great day.

#aklife #solsticesistersak #beachplease

Make that Ten.

So we got to the job site Monday morning to clean up and get the orders to do window & corner trim. So back to the mill for some trim boards and off to work we go again.

Corner trim and kitchen window.

Gotta admit it looks better with a little trim.

Living room window trim.

Now that we’re really done… I hope… It’s off to moose hunting camp.

#aklife #arewedoneyet #didyouseethatmoose

Nine Days Old.

Friday was our ninth day and, except for cleanup and hauling off the tool trailer, we’re finished. Insulated, vapor barrier, accoustical sealant, and installed door and lock set. Short day and now we’re off to the cabin.

Answered Prayers

The forecast for this week wasn’t good, rain moving in. Yesterday I said let’s pray for rain to hold off tomorrow so we can get this roof done. It didn’t rain today.

#littlethings #answeredprayers #almostdone #day8

First day.

Seven

Days.

Today we made 6,731 trips up the ladder to install all the purloins and fascia. Metal goes on tomorrow if the rain holds off.

What day are we on?

I lost track.

Anyway, we sheeted both gable ends with siding. Put the lookouts back up. Capped the front ones, will do the back and sides tomorrow. I finished nailing off the last few pieces of bird blocking too.

Then we start the roof metal. Oh the joy!

#akcabin #arewedoneyet #buildingisfun #day6

Every little boy’s dream.

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Every little boy’s dream.
Teaching the young one.

A lovely day to go to a wedding…

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A lovely day to go to a wedding…
It's a beautiful day for a white wedding.